Lashon Hara

What on earth is a rebbetzin anyway? Let's start simple.

What is a rabbi? Basically, a learned man ("great one ... distinguised, (in knowledge)") who has studied long and hard and reached the point of semicha, ordination. These men (yeah, I know some women are considered rabbis in some forms of Judaism, but we will discuss that elsewhere) are important members of the community, they offer spiritual leadership and often community leadership, they may or may not lead a congregation, and it is important to note that a congregation may survive without a rabbi.

We have had rabbis who are still revered hundreds of years later, such as Rabbi Yosef Karo, who 500 years later is still known as one of the greatest in many ways. In our lifetime we have rabbis, such as the late Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, who are also great men, learned men, good men.

Then we have Baruch Lanner and others, and their facilitators, who, well, we would be better off to forget.

My point is there are all kinds of rabbis. They are men. Men first, actually. Some are great, most strive to be, but some are pukes. They are human, no closer to God than you or I. Some watch football while drinking beer and scratching their belly, like the rest of us. Most (I would guess) even have sex. They probably enjoy it, even fantasize. Yep, they are human.

Note: RenReb disagrees here with the "just an education" idea:
"But I disagree that "they are educated men but that is all." That is not all. I personally feel that if what you are educated in is Torah, well, that's not the same as being educated in other things. Mind you, being educated in anything has a unique level of specialness and kedusha (holiness), provided you put your knowledge and expertise to appropriate use. But I must confess to believing that a unique category of respect should be directed towards a Torah scholar, because, well, a unique category of respect should be directed towards the Torah. N'est-ce pas? (that's French - I just came across it in my kid's big multicultural book of stuff)"

OK, what is a rebbetzin? Easy, one who marries a rabbi. PERIOD. One legitimate shtup, and poof, you're a rebbetzin. No studying needed. No good deeds needed. No semicha needed. Maybe a chuppah, walk seven times around the guy, smile, and bam, you're a rebbetzin.

The community usually demands a lot from the rebbetzin, but why? We want (expect) her to "take care" of the Rabbi and "his" home, raise "his" children, and be an aishes chayil. We go to her for advice and expect wisdom in return. Is this proper? Why is she on the same pedestal that the rabbi himself is on (however misguided that in itself may or may not be)?

We have had and do have great rebbetzins. Who can deny that Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis has had a bigger positive impact on Jews and Judaism than many rabbis? Even the controversial Blu Greenberg has had an impact on Judaism today. On the other hand, my Orthodox rebbetzin is hardly seen nor heard. I am one of the few that actually know her (and think she is wiser, though much less educated, than the rabbi ...).

So, to be a rebbetzin, you need to sleep with a rabbi (at least a rebbetzin with a small "r," maybe a Rebbetzin is more?). You can be great, wise, or indifferent. And you are a woman. A human. With all that that entails. So, don't you think that some rebbetzins have lazy days and just stay in bed? Do they over spend in Bloomingdales? Are some multi-orgasmic? Are some lousy cooks and bad mothers? Do they watch Oprah or One Life to Live?

Case in point. RenReb. The self described "Renegade Rebbetzin." She often gets comments that she is not being "rebbetzin-like." That "rebbetzins don't act like that" or other attacks on her persona. Well, let's see what we know about her ... (granted, all based on an anonymous blog)

She is married to a Rabbi who "rocks her world" hence, she is a rebbetzin.

She is educated, sincere and introspective. Read this post as proof.

She is "cool" and can be a regular person with the youth. See this!

She can be fragile, LIKE THE REST OF US ... the proof is on the sitting on the kitchen floor.

She can educate us, as well as gross out half of her readership, in one fell swoop! Click at your own risk.

So, if she uses the word "cockyhead" (or its derivatives) and admits to her own shortcomings, is she any less a rebbetzin?

If she admits to lusting for Jack Bauer, Curtis, and/or Horatio, is that an abnormal thing that makes her less a rebbetzin?

If you disagree with her, is she less a rebbetzin? Less a person? Less an educated, sassy, determined woman?

RenReb is not the only "human" rebbetzin out there. EZer K'negdo has joined in with the chorus of anonymous human rebbetzins.

Cut these women a break. They are people, like you and me, they are using their blogs for good, not evil, for being themselves, for an outlet. Are they "rebbetzins"? Damn right they are. Are they "Rebbetzins"? I think so.

Just like rabbis (and priests, and professors, and doctors, and trash collectors) there are good rebbetzins, there are great Rebbetzins, and there are pukes. But don't put them down or dismiss them because they are one of us.

Personally ... I bet RenReb is a wonderful Rebbetzin. The jury is still out on EK, she just joined the neighborhood recently!

Here is DovBear's take on Shas' promise of heaven for a vote.

Here is Robin Williams' take on Osama's luck when he gets to heaven:

Osama Bin Laden died and went to heaven.

He was greeted by George Washington, who slapped him and yelled, "How dare you try to destroy the nation I helped conceive!"

Patrick Henry then approached and punched Osama in the nose. After that, James Madison entered and kicked him in the shin. He was followed by an angry Thomas Jefferson, who whacked Osama over the had with a cane.

The thrashing continued as John Randolph, James Monroe and 66 other early Americans came in and unleashed their anger on the terrorist leader.

Suddenly, as Osama lay writhing in unbearable pain, an angel appeared.

"This is not what you promised me," Osama said to the angel.

"Come on, Osama," the angel replied. "I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you in heaven."

The parent company of a Dubai-based firm at the center of a political storm in the US over the purchase of American ports participates in the Arab boycott against Israel, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

Now what? How on earth can we let this go through?

Last few days the people around me have been asking what's wrong ... have not been my usual self. I brush it off. YOU, I'll tell.

My daughter needs to be on lots of medicines. God's gift, I guess.

So, we go to the neurologist and he says, "Her medication seems to be going toxic and that causes liver damage. Staying on it will eventually mean her liver fails, or worse." (Worse?) So we discuss what to do. There is another drug that will work for her. "We can start that one slowly as we slowly decrease the current one. Now, you must watch her closely for a rash, and call if she gets one." (No big deal, a rash, right?) "And call within 12 hours, you will need to get her in here. It can be fatal."

Hobson had nothing on me. Thank you, God.

The Arab newspappers in the mideast carry cartoons like these daily.




BUT, a cartoon like this sparks riots, fires, death threats:


Sorry, I just don't understand this world.

Sharon loses power ... Hamas wins the election ... Michael Jackson dresses in an abaya ... Richard Hatch is going to jail ... DovBear may win a JIB award and RenReb may not (go vote for her, or else!) ...

May God keep an eye on Israel as we all pray for her peace.

PLEASE, please, please explain to me why some women wear sheitels that are prettier than their own hair? They look natural and hot. Is this not a problem?

Please explain to me why I can't turn on a light on Shabbos but I can hire someone to do it for me?

Please explain to me why my rabbi preaches about the importance of doing tshuva, and I do, and I do it with him, yet he who has been a prick to me, and knows it, just smiles and does not ask for forgiveness, he who sits on the bet din?

And finally, please explain to me why we never see DovBear and RenReb in the same room at the same time. Are they the same person? Were they separated at birth? Is Amshi the evil triplet?

And, since I want to be RenReb's best friend, don't forget to vote for her in three races here. And DovBear too, while you're at it.